The dialogue of the Star Wars prequels have acquired a justifiably infamous reputation for not being very good. From Anakin’s now-legendary loathing of sand to virtually every line of romantic dialogue between Anakin and Padme, certain lines have etched themselves in our minds for how bad they are. All three prequel films are written and directed by George Lucas, a man who has two Oscar nominations for Best Original Screenplay (in front of American Graffiti and Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hoperespectively). Lucas himself even admits that dialogue is not his forte. The worst rules from the picks Star Wars prequels are low hanging fruit. We all know which lines would make that list. The harder and more interesting challenge is finding lines that are really good, and look, there are a few lines in the prequel movies that are. Here are some.
6 “You can’t stop the change any more than you can prevent the sun from setting.”
This line comes from The Phantom Menace. Qui-Gon Jinn has just told Anakin and his mother, Shmi, that Anakin is no longer a slave and that he will be trained as a Jedi. The elation is short-lived when Anakin learns that Qui-Gon hasn’t been able to free Shmi either, prompting Anakin to say he doesn’t want things to change. Saying the above quote, Shmi hugs her son and tells him how much she loves him. Changes can be scary. We fear the unknown, but change can and will happen, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. After all, slave Anakin cannot free his mother, but Jedi Anakin can. He even promises to do so a few scenes later, after his mother tells him that change is as inevitable as the setting sun.
5 “We must keep our faith in the Republic. The day we no longer believe that democracy can work is the day we lose it.”
This line comes from Attack of the Clones, when Padme Amidala speaks with Queen Jamillia, Padme’s successor as Queen of Naboo. The scene in question deals with some of the inherent weaknesses that the Republic exhibits. One of ‘s villains The Phantom Menace is still in power despite four trials; the Senate looks weak and ineffective, and several planets have joined a growing separatist movement. And yet the Queen utters this quote in the hope that the system can work. It’s a strong quote, and one with very strong real-world applications. This movie came out in 2002. In 2022, the US sees an increase in the number of people rejecting the democratic process. A prophetic warning not only to the US, but also to other countries around the world. Democracy is fragile and we will lose it if we stop believing in it. An impressive line for a relatively minor character in the prequel movies.
4 “Ultimately is your line, and it wasn’t short enough.”
Yoda says this pretty badass line when he confronts Emperor Palpatine, who has turned up the evil cackle to eleven, in his office in Revenge of the Sith. Immediately before that, Force pushes Palpatine, causing him to fly backwards and fall over his desk. Immediately after, we get a second, equally epic quote from Yoda that also deserves an honorable mention. “If you’re so powerful, why leave?” Yoda’s lightsaber fires and an epic battle between him and Palpatine begins. Granted, the duel ends in a draw, but when the galaxy’s most powerful Jedi says he’s going to end you, that’s going to be awesome.
3 “Have you ever heard the tragedy of Darth Plagueis the Wise?”
This line comes from Revenge of the Sith, when Anakin meets Palpatine at a literal space opera (We see what you did there, George). Palpatine tells Anakin the story of Darth Plagueis, a Sith Lord so powerful in the ways of the Force that he can create life and prevent other humans from dying, the very story Anakin has wanted to hear ever since he had a nightmare about it before. Padme’s death in childbirth. The story is told so perfectly by Ian McDiarmid, who adds so much to it just through his performance. He never tells us that Palpatine was the student of Darth Plagueis, who, as the story goes, killed Darth Plagueis in his sleep, but he doesn’t have to. The way McDiarmid delivers the rules tells us this without him having to say it. It’s a wonderful first line of a very good monologue.
2 “I’m the Senate.”
The most meme-worthy line on the list, “I am the Senate” is a pretty awesome boast from Chancellor Palpatine, who says the quote to four Jedi (including Mace Windu) as they get ready to arrest him. Windu says, “The Senate will determine your fate,” Palpatine says in the quote, a lightsaber fight in which Palpatine slaughters three of the four Jedi in the room in the blink of an eye. It’s always great when villains make big bragging rights and then back it up, and Palpatine definitely backs it up. It’s simple, it’s powerful, and the memes we’ve gotten from it are pretty good too.
1 “So that’s how freedom dies. With thunderous applause.”
Remember that quote earlier on this list about losing democracy when we no longer believe it can work? Here we get the final result once that happens. The quote is delivered by Padme Amidala in the Senate as she watches Palpatine proclaim the First Galactic Empire; this quote is pretty good. Padme is the biggest champion of democracy in the Senate, and to see the whole body cheer when Palpatine is proclaimed emperor, the knife turns as deep as you can. Another quote with many unfortunate real-world uses, it’s a strong reminder that there will always be those who will cry out for authoritarianism. It’s a great line for Padme and a great line from a series of movies that aren’t known for good dialogue.